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A third-grade boy hunched over, hobbled in a circle and complained about his achy back in a raspy voice, stifling giggles.

Speaking as a television interviewer, his teacher, Gina Alvord, had asked him what it would feel like to be 100 years old. It was the 100th day of school at St. John the Evangelist School in Schenectady, and the kids were trying to complete 100 fun activities.

Given the chance, the boy probably would have acted out his skit all day. On a normal day, one pupil told The Evangelist, the class would be toiling at math problems instead.

Other answers to the question echoed the boy's: "I would be using a cane." "I would be in a wheelchair." "Cancer would make me feel sick."

Some children were more positive: "Being 100 would feel good because children would look up to me and respect me," one said. "I would be happy because I would go home to Jesus soon," a girl chimed in.

The children also learned 100 facts in math, mused about what food they could eat 100 times and dreamed up 100 mystery items for classmates to guess. They finished 22 activities and continued working toward their 100-activity goal during the week.

Throughout the rest of the building, students worked on 100-themed projects or played 100-themed games. Second-graders estimated the length of a chain comprised of 100 colorful, paper rings linked together. First-graders solved a 100-piece puzzle and counted out 100 Cheerios.

Fifth-graders typed 100 nouns and verbs in computer class and worked on math problems whose answers were 100. They did 100 exercises, like jumping jacks and pushups, and tested their heart rates.

They also worked on reflection pieces about the first 100 days of school: what they liked, what they didn't like, how they can improve as students and people.

Masha O'Keefe liked the recent desk move from rows to groups, as well as the Valentine's Day party. Alexis Lott fancied the state learning centers in class. She boasted her knowledge of Florida: the motto, the color, the animal, the capital.

Madia Vendetti wrote about her friends, whom she said "keep me on track" and help with schoolwork. Gianluca Salvioli expressed his goal to keep his cubby more organized.

He also planned out what he would do to mediate a fight between peers: "I would tell them to apologize."

Katie Marsh, fifth-grade teacher, always stresses the importance of setting goals and seeing room for improvement to her students.

BY the time you reach the sixth grade, a group of boys in the cafeteria said, the 100th day fun tends to fizzle. For Black History Month, they worked on listing adjectives to describe famous, influential African-Americans such as songstress Aretha Franklin and baseball great Willie Mays.

(03/04/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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